Stop Making These 10 Mistakes To Grow Faster on Substack
Supercharge your growth by relying on the right strategies
When we launched the Write • Build • Scale publication on Substack in July 2024, we didn't know much about the platform.
However, we knew that there was a huge potential that we could unlock to grow our business, and we knew the most effective way to do that was by setting up smart systems and workflows.
This helped us avoid wasting time and become Substack Bestsellers in under 60 days.
Unfortunately, I see many creators taking the opposite approach and relying on trial and error instead of proven systems.
Many of them make their own journey much harder than it needs to be.
They follow advice that sounds good but doesn’t actually work.
They chase hacks instead of systems.
They focus on effort over effectiveness.
As a result, they stay stuck.
They show up, do the work, and publish often, but don’t grow.
If that sounds familiar, this post is for you.
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1. Stop Writing for “Everyone”
If your newsletter is trying to appeal to everyone, it’ll resonate with no one.
This is one of the most common growth killers on Substack.
You write something general, thinking it will reach more people. But it’s the opposite: the more specific your writing, the faster your audience grows.
Ideally, you are able to communicate the target audience or value proposition of your publication using only one sentence.
At Write • Build • Scale, we help you become a better writer, build your audience, and scale your income. That's it. If you look at the most successful Substack publications, you will see that most of them have a clear value proposition.
Think of it this way: there are thousands of other people writing about similar topics. If your content is all over the place, people won't have a strong reason to follow you because they won't have a clear association of what you can do for them. The truth is, we're all only interested in publications and content that provide value to us.
Value can come in different forms: entertainment, emotional support, actionable advice, humor, great storytelling, and much more. But none of those is possible without a clear idea of who you are writing for.
📌 What to do instead: Write with one person in mind. Be clear about who your newsletter is for, and make them feel seen in every post.
Pick 1–2 themes and build clarity around them. It doesn’t mean you can’t evolve—it just means you’re focused.
2. Stop Thinking “Posting More” Equals “Growing Faster”
More content doesn’t automatically mean more growth.
If you’re publishing without a system, a strategy, or a clear value proposition, more output might just lead to more overwhelm.
Sure, more content can lead to more visibility, but if you're not a full-time creator yet, you might not have time to show up 24/7.
What you can do is create 1-2 pieces of great content a week that lead to new readers so you can consistently grow without overwhelming yourself.
Oftentimes, your time is better invested in researching and better understanding the platform you are using instead of just churning out more content.
📌 What to do instead: Follow a simple system. Post consistently (not constantly), and make sure every piece serves a clear purpose: to educate, connect, or convert.
3. Stop Relying on Notes Without Engaging
Substack Notes is powerful—but it’s not a growth engine if you’re just broadcasting.
Substack Notes are most powerful when they spark real conversations.
Sure, having likes and comments is nice, but these metrics don't pay the bills. If you want to get the most out of Substack Notes, use them to start conversations, connect with readers, and do lightweight market research.. Build relationships. Serve your audience and gather information for your next big decisions.
📌 What to do instead: Respond to Notes. Leave thoughtful comments. Build relationships. Notes work best when you treat it like a conversation, not a megaphone.
4. Stop Using Generic Titles Like “Thoughts This Week”
Your headline is your first impression—and most people won’t click if they don’t know what they’re getting.
I see so many writers treating their Substack like a personal journal and wondering why people don't follow along. The truth is, you have competition—and if people don’t know or trust you yet, you need to earn it by clearly communicating how you help them.
If your posts have cryptic titles that don't clearly communicate what I'm going to get when I click on the piece. I'll be less tempted to actually click and read.
I won't deny that writing titles is hard, but it's one of the most important skills you have to build as a creator.
Generic titles may feel easier to write, but they don’t lead to curiosity or connection.
📌 What to do instead: Be specific. Clear > clever. Make the reader feel like “this was written for me.”
5. Stop Ignoring the First 3 Lines of Your Posts
If the title gets the click, the first 3 lines decide whether someone keeps reading. Yet, most creators waste the intro lines and hence lose their readers.
Opening with a quote, disclaimer, or long backstory can lose readers fast.
📌 What to do instead: Start with tension, a question, a bold statement, or a relatable problem. Hook the reader early—then go deeper.
6. Stop Treating Your About Page Like an Afterthought
Your About page is one of the most visited pages on your publication. But most creators use the default text or write something vague.
You’re missing a huge opportunity to turn curious visitors into subscribers.
Think of it this way: most people will never check out your About page, but those who do are the people who are most interested in your work and publication.
These are the people most likely to pay you and become your super fans. But if you don't give them enough context or interesting information, they won't be compelled to come back and spend more time on your publication.
📌 What to do instead: Write a compelling About page that explains who you are, what your newsletter is about, and why someone should subscribe today.
7. Stop Chasing Viral Growth
Hoping that your post gets picked up by Substack’s homepage or goes viral on Notes is like building a house on lottery tickets. Sure, it might happen—but it’s not a strategy.
At Write • Build • Scale, we have gone from zero to almost 10,000 subscribers within 10 months and have built the best-selling publication in less than 60 days without going viral on the platform. Our whole philosophy and systems are based on showing up consistently and doing the right things on repeat with the right people and with the right resources.
📌 What to do instead: Focus on building systems that grow your audience steadily—without relying on viral moments.
8. Stop Comparing Yourself to Bigger Creators
It’s easy to look at top creators and feel like you’re behind. But what you’re seeing is their highlight reel, not their messy middle.
Growth on Substack isn’t linear—and it rarely happens overnight. Plus, you rarely know whether someone had an existing audience or previous experience from other platforms, which makes it even harder to compare yourself to someone else.
📌 What to do instead: Stay focused on your lane and track your own progress regularly so you can review whether your own actions are leading to the results you desire.
9. Stop Treating Substack as a Solo Game
Collaboration is the most underrated and effective growth multiplier on Substack.
But many creators keep their heads down, never interact, and never tap into the collaborative spirit of the platform because they view everyone else as their competition.
But here’s the truth: Substack’s collaboration features allow you to grow much faster by teaming up with other creators who serve a similar audience.
Collaborations have been a huge driver of our growth at Write • Build • Scale, and they’re one of the four main pillars we teach inside Substack System.
📌 What to do instead: Partner with other creators. Recommend each other. Swap guest posts. Join chats. You grow faster together.
10. Stop Avoiding Self-Promotion
Many writers are afraid of being “too salesy.” But if you never talk about your paid tier, your offers, or your products, people won’t find them.
Promotion only feels annoying when it’s irrelevant. If you’re proud of what you’ve created (and want to get paid for it), you need to show up and promote more frequently.
📌 What to do instead: Talk about what you offer confidently and clearly. Use soft CTAs in your posts. Mention your paid tier in your welcome email. Show your work, then invite readers to go deeper.
Final Thoughts
Substack isn’t about tricks. It’s about trust.
The creators who grow fastest aren’t the ones chasing shortcuts. They’re the ones who get clear on who they serve, show up consistently, and write things that make people think: “This was written just for me.”
If you’ve been stuck, try subtracting instead of adding.
Here’s the truth:
You don’t need to be everywhere.
You don’t need to post every day.
You don’t need a “viral moment.”
Stop doing what slows you down—and start doing what builds trust, momentum, and alignment.
This post hit home for me. I did not know the part about the first 3 lines: "Start with tension, a question, a bold statement, or a relatable problem. Hook the reader early—then go deeper." But this totally makes sense. Honestly, if I am not hooked in the first few lines, I move on to something else. This is likely to be true for having a conversation with someone - hook them then continue the conversation!
Very sensible level-headed advice:
--clear topic
--compelling title
--stimulate interest in first three lines
--let them know about payment options
Great stuff!
I'm trying to also figure out best practice for all those hundreds of toggle buttons, headers and footers and all those Substack options that I have skipped over.